Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan has insisted he has no plans to run for president. (J. Scott Applewhite/The Associated Press)

WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Cornyn has heard the “wild speculation” about a dark-horse candidate -- namely House Speaker Paul Ryan -- emerging from a contested convention this summer with the Republican presidential nomination in hand.

He just doesn’t see it happening.

“My expectation would be that the current candidates that remain in the presidential race would be the pool from whom the next nominee is chosen,” Cornyn, the Senate’s No. 2 leader, said during a routine call with Texas reporters Wednesday. “What I can’t tell you is who that is going to be.”

Cornyn has repeatedly declined to endorse a candidate for president, including fellow Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, in what’s been an unpredictable race for the White House. On Wednesday, Cornyn reiterated his pledge to support the eventual nominee, whether it’s Cruz, Ohio Gov. John Kasich or Donald Trump.

With Cruz’s victory in the Wisconsin primary Tuesday making it all the more difficult for Trump to obtain the 1,237 delegates needed for the nomination, Cornyn said “it’s even more likely” there will be a contested convention in July in Cleveland.

And while he acknowledged the buzz in GOP circles over Ryan, in particular as a fourth candidate, Cornyn all but ruled out the possibility. Ryan has insisted that he has no plans to run.

“I just don’t see any real prospect of anybody sort of parachuting in at the last minute,” Cornyn said. “I just don’t think that’s going to happen.”